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United States Patent |
5,264,986
|
Ohgami
,   et al.
|
November 23, 1993
|
Electronic apparatus equipped with detachable unit having retaining
members, interlock, and locking cover plate
Abstract
A portable computer includes a body having a storing portion for storing a
hard disk drive pack. The storing portion has an insertion opening which
is open to the outside of the body. A hard disk drive holder is detachably
connected to the hard disk drive pack. The holder includes a holder main
body detachably fitted in the insertion portion. A pair of retaining
members are provided on the holder main body and movable between an
engaging position in which the retaining members engage engagement
portions of the body to hold the holder main body in the insertion
opening, and a retreat position in which the members are disengaged from
the engagement portions to allow the holder main body to be detached from
the insertion opening. A cover plate is detachably fitted in the insertion
opening and includes lock pins which engage the retaining members to lock
the members in the engagement position. An interlock is coupled between
the pair of retaining members.
Inventors:
|
Ohgami; Keizo (Tokyo, JP);
Akashi; Kazuo (Tokyo, JP)
|
Assignee:
|
Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Kawasaki, JP)
|
Appl. No.:
|
900162 |
Filed:
|
June 17, 1992 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
Current U.S. Class: |
361/685; 361/726 |
Intern'l Class: |
H05K 007/14; H05K 005/02 |
Field of Search: |
364/708
361/380,390-395,399,415
312/223.2
360/137
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
4941841 | Jul., 1990 | Garden et al. | 364/708.
|
4991058 | Feb., 1991 | Watkins et al. | 361/391.
|
5095405 | Mar., 1992 | Ishida | 361/393.
|
5159533 | Oct., 1992 | Kuang | 361/391.
|
Primary Examiner: Picard; Leo P.
Assistant Examiner: Phillips; Michael W.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Limbach & Limbach
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An electronic apparatus comprising:
a body including a storing portion having an insertion opening which is
open to the outside of the body, and an engagement portion formed in the
vicinity of the insertion opening;
a detachable unit stored in the storing portion and detachable from the
storing portion through the insertion opening;
a unit holder for holding the detachable unit in the storing portion, the
unit holder including a retaining member movable between an engagement
position in which the engaging member engages the engagement portion of
the body to hold the detachable unit in the insertion opening, and a
retreat position in which the retaining member is disengaged from the
engagement portion to allow the detachable unit to be fitted in and
detached from the insertion opening; and
a closing member for closing the insertion opening, the closing member
having lock means for locking the retaining member in the engagement
position.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said unit holder includes a
holder main body detachably connected to the detachable unit and fitted in
the insertion opening, and said retaining member is movably provided on
the holder main body.
3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said holder main body
includes a flat member with a shape substantially corresponding to the
shape the insertion opening, and a pair of holding arms extending, in
parallel with each other, from the flat member so that the detachable unit
is detachably held between the holding arms.
4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said closing member has a
cover plate detachably attached to the unit holder.
5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said retaining member
includes an engagement portion, and said lock means includes a lock
portion provided on the cover plate, for engaging the engagement portion
of the retaining member when the retaining member is in the engagement
position.
6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said unit holder has a holder
main body detachably connected to the detachable unit and a front plate
secured to the holder main body, and said retaining member is arranged
between the holder main body and the front plate.
7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said front plate has an
opening opposed to the retaining member, and the retaining member has a
projection projecting into the opening and operable from the outside of
the front plate.
8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said engagement portion of
the retaining member has a notch communicating with the opening of the
front plate when the retaining member is moved to the engagement position,
and said lock portion has a lock pin for engaging the notch through the
opening.
9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said unit holder includes a
holder main body, and said holder main body and the insertion opening have
a substantially rectangular, and said retaining member has a pair of latch
members which project, in the engagement position, from first and second
side edges of the holder main body opposing to each other, respectively.
10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said unit holder has another
retaining member movable between an engagement position in which said
another retaining member engages with the body to hold the holder main
body in the insertion opening, and a retreat position in which said
another retaining member is disengaged from the body to allow the holder
main body to be detached from the insertion opening.
11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said another retaining
member has another pair of latch members projecting from a third side edge
of the holder main body in said engagement position.
12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said unit holder has
interlocking means for moving said another pair of latch members between
the retreat position and engagement position in interlock with movement of
said one pair of latch members between the retreat position and engagement
position.
13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the interlocking means
includes a first engagement portion formed in each of said one pair of
latch members, and a second engagement portion formed in each of said
another pair of latch members and engaged in the first engagement portion,
respectively.
14. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detachable unit
includes a hard disk drive pack.
15. An electronic apparatus comprising:
a body including a storing portion having an insertion opening which is
open to the outside of the body;
a detachable unit stored in the storing portion and detachable form the
storing portion through the insertion opening; and
a unit holder holding the detachable unit in the storing portion, the unit
holder including:
a holder main body detachably connected to the detachable unit and
detachably fitted in the insertion opening,
a first retaining member provided on the holder main body and movable
between an engagement position in which the first retaining member is
engaged with the body, and a retreat position in which the first retaining
body is disengaged from the body to allow the holder main body along with
the detachable unit to be detached from the insertion opening,
a second retaining member provided on the holder main body and movable
between an engagement position in which the second retaining member is
engaged with the body, and a retreat position in which the second
retaining is disengaged from the body to allow the holder main body along
with the detachable unit to be detached from the insertion opening, and
interlocking means for moving the second retaining member between the
retreat position and the engagement position in interlock with movement of
the first retaining member between the retreat position and the engagement
position.
16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said holder main body and
insertion opening have a substantially rectangular shape, said first
retaining member includes a pair of first latch claws which, in said
engagement position, project from first and second side edges of the
holder main body opposed to each other, and said second retaining member
includes a pair of second latch claws which, in said engagement position,
project from a third side edge of the holder main body.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus such as a lap-top
type personal computer, and more particularly, to an electronic apparatus
equipped with a detachable unit such as a hard disk drive (hereinafter
referred to as HDD), a battery pack, and the like, which is detachable
from the body of the device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, portable electronic apparatuses such as so-called book-type and
lap-top type personal computers are available. Some electronic apparatuses
of this type have a structure to which, for example, a 2.5-inch HDD
serving as a high-speed external memory of large capacity is attachable.
This HDD is contained in a rectangular metal case, and the assembly of the
HDD and case is called a HDD pack. Electrically connecting the HDD pack to
a computer by mounting the pack in the body of the computer can remarkably
increase the memory capacity thereof.
A conventional computer has a body provided with a mounting portion for
mounting a HDD pack therein. The pack is inserted into the mounting
portion, and then secured to a predetermined portion in the same with a
plurality of screws screwed from the bottom side of the body.
However, in the computer with the HDD pack secured to its body with screws,
the pack must be detached from or attached to the body by using a tool
such as a driver, when the pack is replaced with a larger-capacity pack,
or it is detached from the computer to lighten the same and facilitate its
carriage, or it is detached to be used in another computer. Thus, it
requires much time and labor to perform detachment and attachment of the
pack.
Further, these days, in accordance with development of effective use of HDD
media, and an increase in the capacity and versatility of a HDD pack,
detachment and attachment of HDD packs have so often been performed. This
being so, it is desired to provide a structure capable of easily detaching
a HDD pack from a computer body and reliably holding the same in the body.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances,
and its object is to provide an electronic device from which a detachable
unit can be easily detached and in which it can be reliably held.
To attain the above object, an electronic apparatus according to the
present invention comprises: a body having a storing portion provided with
an insertion opening opened to the outside of the body and an engagement
portion provided in the vicinity of the insertion opening; a detachable
unit received in the storing portion and being detachable from the storing
portion through the insertion opening; and a unit holder holding the hard
disk drive holder in the storing portion. The unit has a retaining member
movable between an engagement position in which the retaining member is
engaged with the engagement portion of the body of the apparatus to hold
the unit holder fitted in the insertion opening, and a retreat position in
which the retaining member is disengaged from the engagement portion to
allow the unit holder to be fitted in and detached from the insertion
opening. The electronic apparatus further comprises a closing member for
closing the insertion opening, having lock means for locking the retaining
member in the engagement position.
In the thus-constructed electronic apparatus, the detachable unit is fitted
into the storing portion of the body of the apparatus. At this time, the
unit holder is fitted in the insertion opening of the body. Then, the
retaining member is moved to the engagement position, where it engages
with the engagement portion of the apparatus body. Subsequently, the
closing member is fitted in the insertion opening, thereby closing the
same and locking the retaining member in the engagement position with the
use of its lock means. Thus, the unit holder is kept fitted in the
insertion opening, and the detachable unit is fixed in the storing
portion.
Taking the detachable unit out of the storing portion is performed in a
manner reverse to the above. After the closing member is detached from the
apparatus body, the retaining member is moved to the retreat position.
Then, the unit holder is detached from the insertion opening, thereby
taking the detachable unit, connected thereto, out of the storing portion.
Consequently, according to the invention, the detachable unit can be fixed
in the storing portion of the body of the apparatus without using screws,
i.e., it can be easily attached to or detached from the apparatus without
using a tool such as a driver. Further, the unit holder can be kept fitted
in the insertion opening by the closing member, and accordingly the
detachable unit can be reliably held in a predetermined position in the
storing portion.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the
description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the
description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects
and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of
the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the
appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part
of the specification, illustrate a presently preferred embodiment of the
invention, and together with the general description given above and the
detailed description of the preferred embodiment given below, serve to
explain the principles of the invention.
FIGS. 1 to 9 show a lap-top type personal computer according to an
embodiment of the present invention, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rear portion of the computer, showing a
state in which the insertion opening of a HDD-pack-storing portion is
closed with a cover panel;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rear portion of the computer, useful in
explaining how a HDD pack coupled with a HDD holder main body is inserted
into the storing portion;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the HDD holder;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view, showing the main body and cover panel of the
HDD holder, and the HDD pack;
FIG. 5 is a front view of the holder main body, showing a state in which
retaining members thereof are in a retreat position;
FIG. 6 is a front view of the holder main body, showing a state in which
the retaining members are in an engagement position;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the rear portion of the computer, showing a
state in which the HDD pack and holder main body ar received in the
storing portion and insertion opening;
FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken along line VIII--VIII in FIG. 1; and
FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken along line IX--IX in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
An embodiment of the invention will be explained with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a lap-top type personal computer according to the embodiment
of the invention. This computer has a rectangular flat body 10 comprising
lower and upper cases 10a and 10b made of a synthetic resin. The upper
case 10b has an upper rear projection 10c extending in the width
direction. The projection 10c has a pair of depressions 12 (only one of
which is shown) formed separate from each other in the width direction of
the body 10. At the front portion of the upper case 10b is provided a
keyboard 16 having a plurality of keys 14.
A flat rectangular display unit 18 is mounted on the body 10 such that it
can be closed and opened. The display unit 18 has a pair of legs 20 (only
one of which is shown) projecting from the lower end thereof and serving
as pivoting portions. The legs 20 are received in the depressions 12 of
the body 10, and rotatably supported on the body 10 by means of hinges
(not shown). Accordingly, the display unit 18 can rotate between an open
position in which the keyboard 16 is exposed to the outside and a closed
position in which the keyboard is covered with the display unit 18.
As is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the body 10 has a storing portion 34 formed
in a rear portion of the lower case 10a for storing a rectangular hard
disk drive (hereinafter called "HDD") pack 32 which serves as a detachable
unit in the present invention. The storing portion 34 has a rectangular
insertion opening 34a opening in the rear portion of the left side face of
the body 10. The HDD pack 32 can be inserted into and taken out of the
storing portion 34 through the insertion opening 34a. The insertion and
removal of the pack 32 is performed using a HDD holder 36 removably
coupled with the HDD pack. As is shown in FIG. 1, the insertion opening
34a of the storing portion 34 is usually closed with a cover plate 30.
Further, a pair of projections 25 (see FIGS. 2 and 8) project in the
storing portion 34 from two opposite walls of the body 10 defining the
storing portion 34, and located in the vicinity of the insertion opening
34a.
As is shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the HDD holder 36 comprises a substantially
rectangular holder main body 38 corresponding to the shape of the
insertion opening 34a, and a front plate 40 secured to the front face of
the holder main body 38 and having substantially the same shape as the
insertion opening 34a. The holder main body 38 has a pair of holding arms
42 extending from the both opposite ends of the body 38 in parallel with
each other and being perpendicular to the body 38. The arms 42 are opposed
to each other with a distance, substantially equal to the width of the HDD
pack 32, interposed therebetween. Each arm 42 has an elongate hole 42a
extending in the longitudinal direction thereof. On the both sides of an
end portion of the HDD pack 32 are formed engagement grooves 28 for
engaging the holding arms 42. A guide roller 27 for engaging the elongate
hole 42a of each arm 42 is provided on the bottom of the engagement groove
28.
The holder main body 38 has a pair of through holes 43 formed in its upper
opposite end portions, a boss 44 formed in its upper central portion and
having a threaded hole, and a pair of projections 45 projecting from its
lower end. The front plate 40 has a through hole 46 formed in its upper
central portion, a pair of projections (not shown) corresponding to the
through holes 43, and a pair of engagement holes (not shown) formed in
lower end portions corresponding to the projections 45. The front plate 40
is secured to the main body 38 by means of a screw 49 screwed in the boss
44 through the through hole 43, while its projections being fitted in the
through holes 43 and its engagement holes being engaged with the
projections 45 of the body 38.
Between the holder main body 38 and the front plate 40, a pair of sliders
50 are slidably provided and a pair of rotatable retaining claws are
rotatably provided. Each slider 50 is guided by a guide groove 53 and a
guide rib 54 which are formed on the front face of the main body 38, and
is slidable in the longitudinal direction of the main body 38, i.e., in a
direction parallel with the surface of the upper case 10b. A metal latch
claw 56 is secured to each slider 50. Thus, the slider 50 is slidable
between a retreat position, shown in FIG. 5, in which the latch claw 56 is
retreated between the holder main body 38 and front plate 40, and a latch
position (engagement position), shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6, in which the
latch claw 56 projects from a side edge of the main body 38. The
combination of the slider 50 and latch claw 56 serves as the retaining
member of the invention.
A pair of support pins 58 project from those portions of the front surface
of the holder main body 38 which are located in the vicinity of the guide
grooves 53, respectively. Each retaining claw 52 is rotatably supported by
the corresponding pin 58, and located above the corresponding slider 50.
Each claw 52 has a projection 60 engaging an engagement groove 59 formed
in the corresponding slider 50. Accordingly, the claws 52 can rotate about
the pins 58 in interlock with the sliding motion of the sliders 50.
Specifically, when the sliders 50 assume their retreat positions as shown
in FIG. 5, the claws 52 assume their retreat positions between the holder
main body 38 and front plate 40. Then, when the sliders 50 are moved to
their latch positions as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6, the claws 52 are
rotated to their engagement positions in which they project from the upper
end of the holder main body 38.
Each slider 50 has an operable projection 61 projecting into an opening 62
formed in the front plate 40. Accordingly, the sliders 50 can be moved
from the front side of the main body 38 by operating the projections 61,
respectively. Each slider 50 also has a notch 64 which communicates with
the corresponding opening 62 when the slider is in the latch position.
The cover plate 30 for closing the insertion opening 34a of the computer
body 10 is attachable to the front plate 40 of the HDD holder 36.
Specifically, the plate 30 has three engagement claws 66 projecting from
its lower end and a pair of engagement claws 67 projecting from its upper
end. The front plate 40 has three engagement holes 68 corresponding to the
engagement claws 66, and a pair of engagement holes 70 corresponding to
the engagement claws 67. The cover plate 30 is removably attached to the
front face of the front plate 40, with the engagement claws 66 and 67
fitted in the engagement holes 68 and 70, respectively.
The cover plate 30 also has a pair of lock pins 72 projecting from the
inner surface toward the HDD holder 36. The lock pins 72 are opposed to
the openings 62 in the front plate 40, and serve as lock members for
locking the sliders 50, hereinafter referred to.
Insertion of the HDD pack 32 into the storing portion 34 of the computer
body 10 is performed in the following manner. Referring first to FIG. 2,
the HDD holder 36 is connected to the HDD pack such that one end of the
HDD pack 32 is positioned between the holding arms 42, while elastically
deforming the arms so as to slightly widening the distance between the
holding arms 42. Thus, the guide rollers 32a projecting from the both
opposite end faces of the HDD pack 32 are engaged in the long holes 42a in
the holding arms 42. In this state, the HDD holder 36 can slightly move
relative to the HDD pack 32 in the direction in which the arms 42 extend.
The sliders 50 of the holder 36 are moved to the retreat positions, and
accordingly the latch claws 56 and retaining claws 52 are retreated in the
holder main body 38.
Subsequently, the other end of the pack 32 is inserted into the storing
portion 34 through the insertion opening 34a, and the holder 36 is pushed
toward the insertion opening 34a. As is shown in FIG. 7, the holder 36 is
pushed until the front plate 40 thereof is fitted in the insertion opening
34a, and thereafter the sliders 50 are moved to the latch positions by
operating the projections 61. Thus, as is shown in FIG. 8, the latch claws
56 secured to the sliders 50 project from the side edges of the holder
main body 38, and are engaged with the projections 25 formed in the
computer body 10 and serving as engagement portions. At this time, the
retaining claws 52 are rotated to the engagement position as shown in FIG.
9, and engaged with that rib 24 of the computer body 10 which projects
from the upper edge of the insertion opening 34a. Thus, the HDD holder 36
is fitted in the insertion opening 34a and the HDD pack 32 is stored in a
predetermined position in the storing portion 34.
Thereafter, the cover plate 30 is attached to the front plate 40, thereby
closing the insertion opening 24a and forming part of the outer surface of
the body 10. As is shown in FIG. 8, the lock pins 72 projecting from the
inner surface of the plate 30 are respectively inserted into the notches
64 formed in the sliders 50 through the openings 62 in the front plate 40.
Thus, movement of each slider 50 toward the retreat position is
restricted, i.e., the slider is locked in the latch position, so that the
HDD holder 36 and pack 32 are securely held in predetermined positions,
respectively.
Where the latch claws 56, retaining claws 52, and hence sliders 50 are in
the retreat positions, the notches 64 in the sliders do not communicate
with the openings 62 but are covered with the front plate 40. In this
state, if the cover plate 30 is tried to be attached to the front plate
40, it cannot be done so since the lock pins 72 of the plate 30 will
collide with the sliders 50. Therefore, the sliders 50 must be moved to
the latch positions to reliably fit the HDD holder 36 and pack 32 into the
computer body 10, before the cover plate 30 is attached to the front plate
40. This being so, such an erroneous operation as of mounting the cover
plate 30 on the body 10 without reliably fitting the HDD holder 36 and
pack 32 therein is prevented. Accordingly, the pack 32 is prevented,
during transfer of the computer, from being unintentionally removed from
the body 10 and hence from being injured.
Removal of the pack 32 from the body 10 is performed in the order reverse
to the above.
In the personal computer having the above-described structure, the HDD pack
32 can be fixed in the storing portion 34 of the computer body 10 with the
use of no screws. Therefore, attachment and detachment of the pack is
easily performed without using a tool such as a driver. Also, the holder
36 is locked with the cover plate 30 fitted in the insertion opening 34a
of the body 10, so that the HDD pack 32 is reliably kept in a
predetermined position in the storing portion 34.
Further, such a structure may be added to the invention that a printed
circuit board having an interface for the HDD pack 32 is provided in the
computer body 10, that a HDD sensor is provided on the circuit board so as
to be turned on or off when the HDD pack is normally stored in the
computer body, and that a HDD-driving circuit in the computer is turned
off by the HDD sensor before an interface connector in the HDD pack is
disconnected from a connector on the side of the circuit board. In this
case, the HDD pack can be attached to and detached from the computer in an
electrically safe manner.
The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, but
may be modified without departing from the scope thereof. For example, the
present invention is applicable to another electronic apparatuses such as
a word processor.
In addition, the cover plate may have engagement grooves serving as lock
portions in place of the lock pins. In this case, each slider has
projections to be engaged with the engagement grooves in the latch
position.
Further, the detachable unit is not limited to a hard disk drive pack, but
a battery pack, for example, may be used as the detachable unit. In this
case, the holder main body may be formed integral with a casing of the
battery pack.
Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled
in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited
to the specific details, and representative devices, shown and described
herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing
from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by
the appended claims and their equivalents.
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